Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin lost his temper at a Democratic congresswoman, calling her a hypocrite to her face Thursday and telling her she should be "put in her place" during a congressional oversight hearing.
The blowup came at a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing, where Mullin was testifying on the Department of Homeland Security's budget. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), the panel's ranking member, had invoked former President Donald Trump's family separation policy, noting that 3,900 children were separated from their parents at the border.
Mullin interrupted her.
"450,000 kids were lost during the former President Joe Biden administration," he fired back. "You didn't say a word —"
"Mr. Secretary! Do not interrupt!" DeLauro shot back.
"Don't you point your finger at me! You hypocrite!" Mullin charged.
"I will point my finger at you!" DeLauro replied, refusing to back down.
"Be a hypocrite then! You should be as upset about the 450,000 kids that were lost! You didn't say a word about it! For four years, you never said a word!" Mullin exclaimed, refusing to stop.
DeLauro turned to Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV), the Republican chairman running the hearing.
"Could you put him in his place!" she demanded.
Mullin answered before Amodei could.
"You should be put in your place," he snapped.
Amodei tried to restore order, reminding Mullin that members were entitled to their full eight minutes of questioning. Mullin ignored him.
"I will not let her sit there and lie and accuse something this ridiculous," Mullin continued.
"Do not accuse me of lying! Do not!" DeLauro fired back.
The chairman banged his gavel twice.
"We are going to have something resembling order here!" Amodei warned.
Mullin, a former U.S. senator and professional MMA fighter, was confirmed by the Senate in March to lead the department. Thursday's eruption came during his first major appropriations hearing as secretary.
DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat who has served in Congress since 1991, refused to yield.
"I have a long history, Mr. Secretary, in this area," she said. "3,900 kids were separated."
Mullin did not apologize.